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PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE - To MARS with MER
January 5, 2004
Every day since Saturday has been a very good day on Mars and here on Earth, at NASA JPL. Please see the NASA press releases for the latest science briefings. Coming soon, Field Journals from some of the scientists, engineers and even students who've been putting in long but happy hours since the landing. Meanwhile here are some candid images of what's been going on.
Monday saw the first release of 3-D images. Red and blue glasses became a fashion statement here in the press area.
Spirit's first color image of Mars.
Even the press and the public affairs specialists got into the 3-D swing of things: to left, JPL's Blaine Baggett, head of the Communications and Education Department, and to right, Guy Webster, who writes most of the Mars Rover releases. Channel 7's reporter took 3-D notes.
On stage for the press conference was Surface Activity Lead Art Thompson, who closed BOUNCING TO MARS by saying farewell to Spirit after launch with "See you in 7 months." He said it had been incredible to see his dream come true as Spirit appeared on camera, safely on Mars.
Just like your home computer, MER uses small thumbnail sized-images to verify that new pictures have been taken.
With imaging guru Eric De Jong in charge, the first 3-D panorama from the Mars Exploration Rovers is walked on.
Here's the first color picture from Mars: next day, Jan 6th, unveiled the full-sized and totally spectacular image.
